There’s another exciting weekend in the Premier League ahead as clubs are now well and truly back to league action following last week’s cup competitions.
The biggest game of the weekend will undoubtedly be Liverpool’s clash against Arsenal in Saturday’s late kick-off at Anfield but there are also key battles at the other end of the table as Leicester City host Hull City and Swansea take on Burnley at the Liberty Stadium
Tottenham will face a tough clash against Everton and the Blues could force a slip up from the second-placed team in the table as they search to secure a Europa League place. There is also a London derby as league leaders Chelsea will travel to the Olympic Stadium in the hope of extending their lead at the top of the table.
With all teams in action, here are just five things that you should look out for in the Premier League this weekend:
1) Liverpool vs Arsenal – Goals
This fixture has a habit of producing lots of goals and in the first game of the season it did just that. Liverpool won 4-3 in the end following an impressive solo goal from debutant Sadio Mane and it could be another similar story this time around. Mane could be the key man for Liverpool while Alexis Sanchez will hope to exert his presence on the big game. Both teams have shaky defences so there could be an onslaught of goals.
2) Schneiderlin impressing at White Hart Lane
The former Manchester United midfielder was barely given a chance by Jose Mourinho before he was sold to Everton in the summer. However, since joining the Blues, Schniederlin has been impressive and his movement across the midfield has given Everton a much-needed edge. He will have the perfect stage to showcase what he is capable of when he is pitted against Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli on Sunday and it would be no surprise to see him shine.
3) A London thrashing
West Ham have been poor lately and this weekend’s draw against Watford was another disappointing result for Slaven Bilic’s side. They are under some serious pressure to perform and in contrast, Chelsea have been cruising. The league leaders had a slight blip against Burnley earlier this month but that will surely give them even more motivation to go out and announce themselves as the champions elect. It could prove to be a horrible day for the Hammers who are still searching for a match winner in the absence of Dimitri Payet.
4) Rise back to the top
After the sacking of Claudio Ranieri, a defeat against Liverpool at the King Power Stadium could have catapulted Leicester into serious danger. However, under pressure from their fans, the team delivered and it may be the start of a turning point for the reigning champions. They moved out of the bottom three on Monday evening but it’s absolutely crucial they get another victory against Hull so they can build some momentum. The players will be keen to show it was not a one off performance and both teams are still in serious danger of facing the drop. This fixture could be a six-pointer and it’s make or break for the current champions as a victory could set them on their way back to the top half of the table, while a defeat could set them back once more.
5) Celebrations at Old Trafford
Considering their slow start to the campaign, it’s not been a bad month for Manchester United who are now in great form under Jose Mourinho. It will be their first game back at Old Trafford since lifting the EFL Cup trophy and Zlatan Ibrahimovic can expect a hero’s welcome as he looks to get his team back firing in the Premier League after a week of cup action. Bournemouth are the unlucky visitors and it’s hard to see how the Cherries will be able to come away with a result against a team enjoying winning momentum.
